NEW DELHE: The Prime Minister Thad personally assured the Chief Election Commissioner last May that elections to the Lok Sabha would be held before April 1996 and it was only after Narasimha Rao’s word to him that T.N, Seshan decided to cancel the by elections,

Sources close to Seshan say that this is the schedule the CEC would like to stick to. Left to himself, the CEC is believed to be in favor of holding elections between February 10 and 29. January is a month of festivals, March is dominated by budget making exercises all over the country, and April is unsuitable because of school examinations.

The term of the tenth Lok Sabha comes (0 an end on July 7, 1996 and polls can be announced anytime between January 7 and June next year. Even after the Supreme Court verdict granting parity of status to the CEC and the Election Commissioners, the CEC is reportedly still in no mood to be dictated to by the Government on the dates of the Lok Sabha polls.

However, as things stand he would have to relent on the timing of the general elections if the other two Commissioners are agreeable on a date other than February.

Sources said that the Prime Minister had spoken personally to the CEC requesting him to put off the by elections. Seshan said he would get mudimhis face, if he did that. The Prime Minister is believed to have replied that Seshan was like an elephant and a little bit of mud would not make a difference. Seshan’s conversation with Rao took place after the BJP leader, L.K. ‘Advani, urged the CEC to cancel the by elections to the Lok Sabha on the ‘ground that only a year was left for the general elections. Seshan agreed provided other parties also made a similar request.

Even as the Supreme Court is keeping up the pressure on the Chief Election Commissioner, there are Indians that the continuing stalemate in the Election Commission between Seshan and the other two Commissioners may have bearing on the timing and the conduct of res and fair elections next year.

According to the provisions of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act,:993, the Election Commission= ers are supposed to decide the procedural matters relating to their functioning unanimously and take other decisions by consensus, or if that proves elusive then by a majority vote.

but it is feared that the situation can become tricky on issues such as the requisitioning of Central forces for the conduct of the polls or countermanding of an election or ordering re polling in a number of places, if there is disagreement between the CEC and the other two commissioners. These are matters which would require quick decisions.

Sources close to Seshan say that the GEC is not going to resign or take any other decision like joining politics before he has completed the general elections and polls to six states:

Assemblies where elections are due June 1996, only after that would he become a “coasting rocket” and see an auspicious date to bow out. The’ CEC’s term comes to an end in December 1996.

Article extracted from this publication >>September 8, 1995